By Jose Maria Sison,
Founding Chairman, Communist Party of the Philippines
Chief Political Consultant, National Democratic Front of the Philippines
08 April 2017
We wish to convey comradely greetings of proletarian internationalism to the Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany and all comrades and friends gathered today in Ferienpark Thüringer Wald for the festival celebrating the victories of the Party under the 37-year Chairmanship of Stefan Engel and ushering in the Chairmanship of Gabi Gärtner.
We have come to know well Comrade Stefan Engel as a brilliant Marxist-Leninist leader and an outstanding communist fighter in the course of the close and effective relations between the Communist Party of the Philippines and Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany and in connection with cooperation within the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations.
He learned comprehensivey and profoundly the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought and had the good fortune of being educated and trained by Willi Dickut, renowned German theoretician and practitioner of proletarian revolution. He rose from the ranks of the youth movement as a leader and as a communist cadre.
At the same time, he was a worker himself and rose from the ranks of workers to become the Chairman of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Germany (MLPD). Following the footsteps of his mentor Willi Dickut and all the great communist thinkers and leaders, Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin and Mao, he has written books and articles to give theoretical and practical guidance to the German proletariat in their revolutionary struggle for genuine socialism.
As proletarian internationalist and exponent of people’s solidarity against imperialism, he has always taken into account the context of world proletarian revolution of the German revolution. His works have influenced the proletariat and people in both imperialist and underdeveloped countries regarding the fundamental principles of Marxist-Leninist philosophy, political science and social science and the requirements of revolutionary struggle against imperialism and all reaction.
He has delved into the contradictions between proletarian and petty bourgeois modes of thinking and their respective party manifestations in contemporary capitalist society. He has avidly studied and written about the internationalization of production and the need for world proletarian revolution. He has championed the just cause of conserving, protecting and using wisely the environment. He has stood firmly against nuclear weapons and nuclear plants as source of energy because these are threats to the very existence of humankind.
To share the stand, views and methods of the MLPD with other parties, he has long maintained a leading role in the International Conference of Marxist-Leninist Parties and Organizations (ICMLPO). He has sought to widen the influence and consequence of the parties in ICMLPO by conjoining them with mass organizations and movements in the International Coordination of Revolutionary Parties and Organizations (ICOR) and by allying this with the International League of Peoples’ Stuggle (ILPS).
Having expressed our highest appreciation for her predecessor, Comrade Stefan, we convey our warmest felicitations to Comrade Gabi Gärtner for being elected by the Central Committee as the new Chairman of the MLPD. Gabi also grew up around the presence of comrade Willi Dickhut and Comrade Stefan.
These two outstanding communist leaders put great emphasis on the study of Marxist-Leninist theory and its application on German society and revolutionary movement, a rich and priceless legacy for the young Gabi.
She took active part in the activities of the children’s organization Rotfüchse and later joined the communist youth organization REBELL. In the 1990s, Gabi took active part in the broad anti-fascist youth movement in Solingen, the alliance Gegen Faschismus und Krieg, and the movement against the interventionist war in Iraq, and later in the Solinger Appell.
She is a worker hersef, a skilled toolmaker, a specialist in industrial construction, and a well-respected labor leader. She took an active part in the IG Metall metalworkers’ union, and has since accumulated valuable experience in revolutionary trade union work.
She joined the Party in 1996 and was elected as the youngest member of the Central Committee in 2000. Filipino comrades witnessed her promotion. She has dedicated her full time for the Party since 2003, and has performed important and exemplary work within the Party and as a municipal councilor under the Solingen Aktiv. Taking on great responsibilities, Gabi has been able to develop closer relations with the Solingen communities, the rank-and-file membership of the Party, comrades and her friends.
Most recently, she displayed exemplary competence and courage in leading a contingent of the International Coordination of Revolutionary Parties and Organizations (ICOR) in the Syrian town of Kôbane. Her delegation assisted in the rehabilitation of a health center which had been destroyed by the ISIS. Her ability to lead under the most difficult conditions, camaraderie and selfless dedication earned for her the respect of the local population and fighters.
As aptly pointed out, ‘she is the best person for this task’! We are highly confident that Gabi will be able to continue with the exemplary work and legacy of Comrade Stefan Engels in leading the Central Committee and the entire MLPD in the German revolutionary struggle as well as in international work We wish her and the Party utmost success in achieving more victories in the years ahead.
Red salute to Stefan Engel for 37 years of in exemplary leadership of the MLPD!
Red salute to Gabi Gärtner and the new leadership of the MLPD!
Long live the MLPD!
Victory to the proletarian revolution in Germany!
Long live proletarian internationalism and solidarity of all oppressed peoples!
